The Sanibel Captiva Conservation Foundation has been led for the past two years by Ryan Orgera, who grew up on Lemon Bay in nearby Charlotte County and has traveled around the globe on conservation initiatives.

A Ph.D. in Geography and Environmental Services from Louisiana State University, Orgera brings a striking combination of field experience and political experience to the job of CEO at SCCF.

He traveled to Africa and Latin America with Pew Charitable Trusts to work on ending illegal fishing and shark conservation. His expertise contributed to protections for 13 types of sharks and rays.

In the political arena he served U.S. Senator Bill Nelson as a Knauss Marine Policy fellow, advising on ocean, coastal and flood insurance policy.

“It’s gone incredibly well,” said Orgera, who took over the reins from Executive Director Erik Lindblad. “The community is so supportive and engaged, and the volunteers are willing to pitch in with their time and energy. SCCF is a dynamic organization — you usually don’t see this kind of breadth.”

SCCF was founded in 1967 and protects over 1,860 acres of wilderness and monitors over 34 miles of waterways. Visit to SCCF.org to learn more about their programs.
Orgera lives on Sanibel with his wife, Alicia Tighe Orgera, who is the executive director of F.I.S.H. of Sanibel-Captiva.